Edu Manzano pledges support for Cebuano women, kids

CEBU, Philippines - Veteran actor Edu Manzano on Saturday assured his full support to a women's group and other civic organizations in Metro Cebu that help women, children and those affected by disasters and calamities last year.

This after Manzano took his oath as new member of Quota International of Cebu South during the induction and installation of officers and members here.

Quota International is a women's organization in Cebu and is now accepting male members who support their programs that aim to help others, especially women and children. Its new president is Melva Bacaltos.

Manzano was recruited by former mayor Ernest Herrera of Calape, Bohol to join the group.

According to Manzano, he is willing to help the group, more especially because those who benefit its programs are women and children in Metro Cebu.

"I am willing to volunteer and work with the group in Cebu and share blessings and ideas for the benefit of women and children," said Manzano.

For his part, Herrera described Manzano as "an asset" of Quota International where the former is also a member.

Among the group's advocacies involves helping hearing-impaired women by giving them livelihood or source of income.

The group has also sponsored feeding programs wherein the beneficiary were patients admitted at Don Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale said she salutes the officers and members of Quota International of Cebu South for their concern on women and children.

She also lauded the group for their assistance given to Yolanda victims in northern Cebu, especially in Sogod and Bantayan towns.

She said the group also assisted typhoon victims in Iloilo and Leyte, as well as earthquake victims in Bohol.

"You (Quota International) give a poor child the chance for school, you give a battered and abandoned wife a decent living for her kids, you feed the hungry and malnourished children, you teach and train the disabled for livelihood, or you provide shelter to the frail, homeless, grandpas and grandmas," Magpale said.

"Thank you for helping government improve lives of the Cebuanos. We also do all the above things but we cannot do them alone," Magpale added.

Magpale said there are problems and concerns involving women and children that need immediate attention, particularly on the issue of human trafficking.

Quota International of Cebu South has scheduled a fund-raising campaign in the next months to generate funds for other projects in Cebu. (FREEMAN)